Past Scholarships

The proceeds of charitable events such as Hats and High Tea and the Annual Golf Tournament are sponsored by the Community Leaders Association to support the Cal Lutheran's academic
progams and its students.

Over the years, the support of the Community Leaders Association has resulted in the
donation of nearly $2 million toward enhancements in equipment and technology. In
addition to providing funding for the academic departments at Cal Lutheran, the Association
also awards scholarships each year to students who excel academically and show committment
to community service.

2015 Scholarship Recipients

Kaitlyn Domingues

Hometown: Santa Maria, CA

Major: Biology

Student Bio

My name is Kaitlyn Domingues and I will be studying Biology at Cal Lutheran in the
fall.

This past May I graduated from Saint Joseph High School in Santa Maria, CA. Throughout
high school I was involved in several extracurricular activities. I was a 4 year member
of Key Club, the National Honors Society, Christian Service Club, and a lifetime member
of the California Scholarship Federation. These clubs have opened up several volunteering
opportunities for me including working with the Kiwanis, feeding the homeless, and
visiting many rest homes throughout the year to spread cheer.

I am also very involved at Saint Louis de Montfort Church. There I taught a first
grade CCD class every Wednesday since I was in the seventh grade and led a small group
for the confirmation program. It is also where I have been employed as a weekend secretary
since I was a sophomore. I enjoyed leading my class as a member of the associated
student body since my freshmen year and my school as a member of the ASB Executive
Board my senior year.

Student government and volunteer programs are what I plan on getting involved in at
Cal Lutheran. In my moments of free time I enjoy following Angel’s baseball, crafting,
and being adventurous with my friends.

I am so excited to start the next chapter of my life at Cal Lutheran. I plan on going
into the medical field and know that Cal Lutheran will give me the strong foundation
I need to succeed in doing that.

I would like to thank the Community Leaders Association for their recognition and
also their assistance in helping me reach my goals.

Shelby Jo Kitson

Hometown: Anthem, AZ

Major: Communications

Student Bio

My name is Shelby Jo Kitson and I am an incoming freshman.

I graduated from Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Arizona, where I was a member
of many sports teams, clubs and organizations. I played Varsity Softball my freshman
and sophomore years, and was a member of the two time, state runner-up competitive
cheer squad. While not in a competitive sport,

I served over 220 volunteer hours with National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor
Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and as a student trainer for our athletic
department. Some of these events included the Special Needs Prom, blood drives, community
triathlons, peer tutoring, youth coaching, food drives, and many other events that
took place on and off campus.

As a student athlete who enjoys keeping busy, I also held a part-time position at
Nike. Serving my community has been a role that has assisted in shaping who I am,
but academics have been at the forefront of my life. I finished in the top 12% of
my class of 600 students with a GPA of 4.17, while taking four years of Spanish, two
years of college English, and a year of college math.

At Cal Lutheran, I will major in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Broadcast
Journalism, and a minor in Spanish. I am very excited to bring my passion for people
and my love of sports to Cal Lutheran, where I will be a member of the 2015-2016 cheer
squad.

A few fun facts about me are: I have three biological brothers, one half-sister, three
step brothers and three step sisters. I am leaving two dogs at home, a golden doodle
named Peter and mini poodle named Frank. Along with English, I speak sign language
and Spanish. I can throw a football better than most boys. I am left handed, love
road trips and have a season pass to Magic Mountain.

I cannot wait to start my life at Cal Lutheran as a Regal and become part of an amazing
community.

Thank you to the Community Leaders Association for assisting me in furthering my goals
and making me feel like an important part of the Cal Lutheran family.

Anna Lundsten

Hometown: St. Paul, MN

Majors: Psychology, Global Studies

Student Bio

My name is Anna Lundsten and I am an incoming freshman. I graduated from Mahtomedi
High School in Minnesota.

Throughout high school I was involved in INTERACT, Mahtomedi Service Partnership,
and Spanish Club. I also swam for my high school swim team for four years and was
a captain this past year. When not competing for my school, I was swimming for a year
round swim team for the past 10 years. Being a part of these activities facilitated
my involvement in my school and the surrounding community.

Outside of school, I volunteer at a homeless shelter for Hispanic families, called
Casa Guadalupana, located in St. Paul. There I have learned the importance of bridging
language and cultural differences. This concept was reinforced through my work in
Uganda, Africa.

I have sponsored a 13 year-old girl through Uganda Orphans Fund for three years, and
I write to five other girls who live at the orphanage along with her. In the spring
of 2014, I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda; specifically, Kasozi Village (the
orphanage). There, I was able to meet the girls I correspond with, spend time with
the young girl that I sponsor, and spend two weeks volunteering in the orphanage.

The two weeks I spent in Uganda didn’t change my life, they redefined it. I learned
so much from the children and people that I met. I learned new priorities: people
are priorities. My biggest lesson was in love; my heart was broken by an overwhelming
passion for the Ugandan people and their culture. This trip was my inspiration for
a Psychology and Global Studies double-major at California Lutheran University.

Upon graduating I am planning to work in Ugandan orphanages as an Art Therapist for
orphans and the former child soldiers.

I would like to thank the Community Leaders Association for their help in pursuing
this goal.

Kerry Sanchez

Hometown: Santa Maria, CA

Student Bio

My name is Kerry Sanchez and I am an incoming freshman. I attended and graduated from
St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, California.

I have participated in a multitude of extracurricular activities while at St. Joseph.
I was an active member of the Rotary Interact Club, Key Club, and the California Scholarship
Federation, as well as creating and being President of the Baking for a Cause Club.

Another activity that was a part of my high school experience was associated student
body. I served as class vice president during my freshmen and sophomore year, commissioner
during my junior year, and finally as an Executive Board Officer my senior year. I
also took part in my school’s Youth Ministry, in which we created retreats, masses,
daily prayer, and prayer services for the student body.

These activities allowed me to expand my compassion towards others when I participated
in service activities such as feeding the homeless, playing Bingo at rest homes, and
helping with benefit dinners. My community involvement included volunteering at the
hospital and leading a small group through the confirmation program at my church,
St. Louis de Montfort.

I plan on continuing my involvement in service oriented and leadership clubs at Cal
Lutheran in addition to studying Psychology in Honors Program. I cannot wait to begin
in the fall and be a regal at Cal Lutheran University. I am thankful to the Community
Leaders Association for their generous scholarship in helping me to pursue my goals.

Diana Marie Pasternak

Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA

Student Bio

My name is Diana Marie Pasternak and I will be attending Cal Lutheran University in
fall 2015, as an incoming freshman.

I graduated San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California. Throughout my time
during high school, I was involved in numerous organizations and clubs including:
National Honors Society, California Scholarship Federation, and the San Marcos Every
Fifteen Minutes Program, which was an event that I helped create and partake in, designed
to remind my classmates of the dangers of driving while under the influence. I was
also a part of San Marcos Leo Club and had leadership roles for three years, including
co-president my senior year.

I had the unique opportunity to participate in a student-run nonprofit organization
called Kids Helping Kids at San Marcos High School. As a group we raised over $312,000
in one semester. The funds we raised helped subsidize advanced placement and SAT tests
and helped purchase electric wheelchairs and visual aide machines for students at
San Marcos High School. Kids Helping Kids also raised money to fund and build a safe
house in Nicaragua, set up a preschool in Rwanda, and install water purification infrastructure
in Honduras. I have found this work very rewarding.

Throughout my high school career, I dedicated my time to working with children and
learning how to teach. In addition to Kids Helping Kids, I assisted and instructed
children through programs at my church, the public library, the Down Syndrome Association
of Santa Barbara and my dance studio.

During my senior year, I had first-hand experience working with an elementary school
teacher while student teaching in a fifth grade classroom thrice weekly.

Currently this summer, I am working as a Speech Pathologist’s Assistant at Camp Mariposas.
This Santa Barbara-based program allows children between the ages of three and eleven
to participate in fun activities — arts and crafts, games, music, dance — that enhance
their communication skills and sensory development. I also worked at this camp last
year and this is where I realized that I have a desire to work with and help children.

After college, I hope to be employed in an environment where I have the opportunity
to continue educating and helping others.

I am so grateful for being chosen as a 2015 Community Leaders Association recipient.
Thank you for this generous scholarship in helping me to attend California Lutheran
University.

Nicole Roed

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Student Bio

My name is Nicole Roed and I graduated from Chief Sealth International High School
in Seattle, Washington.

While at Chief Sealth, to prepare myself for university success, I took the most rigorous
courses available, including International Baccalaureate courses my junior and senior
years. Along with academics, I was involved for 4 years in World Water Week, a festival
put on by students in my high school to raise awareness in the community about water
issues happening in the world today. This past year we put on a conference through
Global Issues Network to which we invited students from different states and even
countries to come and discuss world issues and how we, as young people, could solve
them.

I was also involved with athletics. I played on the Varsity Soccer team for four years
and served as captain my senior year. I was also on the varsity swim team and played
water polo for sister school Roosevelt HS. Sports gave me focus and a serious work
ethic and I feel that it is so important, especially for females, to feel strong and
confident as we navigate life.

Much of my “giving back” has therefore revolved around sports: Volunteering with Special
Olympics club at my school, running summer soccer camps with my high school team,
teaching kids to ski and swim, coaching water polo being a summer swim team ‘big buddy’
and always encouraging kids to do their best. It makes me happy and proud each time
a young girl says she is going to shoot for a goal because I believe in her.

I am so blessed to be a Cal Lutheran Regal and so grateful for the scholarships I’ve
been granted. Without them I would not be able to attend this school so thank you
for your generosity! I look forward with great enthusiasm to the next four years studying
exercise science and hope to give back at least as much as I’ve been given.

Go Regals and Kingsmen!

Hayden Smith

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

Major: Exercise Science

Student Bio

My name is Hayden Smith and I graduated from St. Mary's High School in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. At St. Mary's, I participated in numerous extracurricular activities, playing
football, ice hockey, and baseball all four years along with being in the Student
Government program and National Honor Society program for my junior and senior years.

Through athletics, I was a team captain for the varsity football team both my junior
and senior years and a captain for ice hockey and baseball my senior year. I was the
junior class treasurer and senior class vice president for student government, and
I put on blood drives and book drives through the National Honor Society. I embraced
my role model position by tutoring younger students in our feeder schools in my free
time as well.

Some of my accomplishments include the offensive MVP and quarterback of the year for
football, as well as all-conference and all-state titles in the sport, along with
being the recipient of the Bob Otto award for leadership, the highest leadership award
my school gives out I was also an all-conference and all-state baseball player my
senior year, and led many school assemblies through student government.

I feel that two of my biggest accomplishments thus far are being named a captain at
the 2015 Colorado High School Coaches Association All-State football game, and signing
to play football for the Kingsmen the fall of 2015.

Some things about me are that I am a big outdoorsman, and I love to fish and camp.
I am a huge Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche fan, and support the Boston Red
Sox during the spring. I love sports and staying active, so I am very excited to see
what new opportunities California Lutheran University has to offer me.

I plan on following my father's footsteps as a dentist, so I will be studying pre-dentistry
at Cal Lutheran with a major in exercise science.